Click here to view image full size. A triptych entitled Autumn Moon. A famous subject showing the aristocrat Fujiwara no Yasumasa playing his flute on a lonely moor and the bandit Hakamadare Yasusuke creeping up on him. So entranced was Hakamadare by the music that all he could do was to follow Yasumasa home. This is a version of a design published in 1868 with partially new blocks and an uncluttered background. It is regarded as a new design. Published by Katada Chojiro, 1884.   Fine impression and colour. Slight edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Yoshitoshi.   Status: Sold  

 Click here to view image full size. Yamauba and Kintoki from a set of thirteen prints Ikkai zuihitsu, “A Miscellany by Ikkai,” this being an early name of Yoshitoshi’s. A strange print in more ways than one: Not only is this his most “Westernized” design, but the impression is a puzzle. There is a thought that the design is based on Raphael’s Santa Familia but it could as easily be a Botticelli. Certainly it looks to be after Madonna and child images he has seen. Also, this set has numerous variations in seals. Basically, it seems those with red or black seals in the margin are the earliest. However, this is a fine impression and has no seals. Published by Masadaya Heikichi, 1872.   Fine impression and colour (with Kintoki a deeper red than on other impressions). Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.   Status: Sold  

 Click here to view image full size. Wakashima Gonemon swimming underwater with a large rope attempting to retrieve the ancient dragon-headed bell of the Dragon God. The beams of light indicate its location. In the event, the rope broke and the bell is supposedly still in situ at the bottom of the Sumida river. The best design from Azuma no nishiki ukiyo kodan, “Tales of the Floating World on Eastern Brocade.” The stories retold by Kanagaki Robun (text at top). Published by Masudaya, 11   Very good impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.   Status: Sold  

 Click here to view image full size. Uesugi Kenshin Nyudo Terutora riding into battle. From the fine set Yoshitoshi mushaburui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” Published by Kobayashi, 1883-1886 (this being 1883).   Fine impression and colour. Light toning, otherwise fine condition. This is the first edition. There are a number of later states and the set was republished by Tsunajima in 1886.   Status: Sold  

Click here to view image full size. Shows Abe no Hirafu, a governor of Koshi, killing a giant bear in heavy snow. From a set: Dai Nippon meisho kagami, “Mirror of Famous Leaders of Great Japan.” Published by Funazu Chujiro, 1880.     Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Oju Yoshitoshi hitsu.     Status: Sold    

 Click here to view image full size. Soga no Goro galloping at high speed, whipping the steed with a bamboo branch. He races to the aid of his brother in Oiso. This famous story tells how the brothers avenged the death of their father Sukeyasu by Suketsune who was under the protection of the shogun Yoritomo. The Soga brothers kill Suketsune but Juro is killed in the ensuing fight and Goro is subsequently beheaded. Published 1885 by Fukuda Yasushi. One of the great Yoshitoshi designs and rare. Fine impression and colour. In exceptional condition. A design invariably trimmed whilst this impression has all margins intact. Signed Oju Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. The monkey battles Kinkaku Daio on a sea cliff from the rare set of eight prints: Tsuzoku Saiyuki, “A Modern Journey to the West.” Based on Wu Cheng’en’s ( 1500-1582 ) most famous novel, Journey to the West, which was translated and condensed by Arthur Waley and entitled Monkey. This is probably the finest design from this high quality set. Published by Fukuta, 10/1864 ( this design 2/1865 ). Superb impression. Fine colour and condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Botaro’s nurse Otsuji praying beneath the waterfall for his release: She offers her life for his. The set of thirty-six prints with title: “New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts” was published by Sasaki 1889-92 ( this design being 1892 ). Fine impression of the first edition. Fine colour. Slightly trimmed left margin and light album backing. Signed Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. The ghost of Okiku at Sarayashiki. Accused of stealing a dish, she was killed and thrown into a well by her master. The set of thirty-six prints with title: “New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts” was published by Sasaki 1889-92 ( this design being 1890 ). Fine impression of the first edition. Fine colour. Slightly trimmed left margin and light album backing. Signed Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Yugao, the mysterious girl who appears to Prince Genji as told by Murasaki Shikibu in Genji Monogatari ( written c 1000 A.D. ). The set entitled “One Hundred Aspects of the Moon” published by Akiyama Buemon between 1885-92 ( this design being 1886 ). Very good early impression. Very good colour. Slightly trimmed left margin and light album backing. Signed Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Vertical diptych showing Watanabe no Ttsuna cutting off the arm of the demon Ibaraki at the Rashomon Gate, Kyoto. Published by Matsui 1888 ( Meiji 21 ). Superb impression, colour and condition of the first edition. All the vertical designs were published by Matsui and many were republished by Hasegawa except Adachi Moor and Inaka Genji. The earliest Matsui impressions are beautifully printed and he insisted his printers use hosho paper ( as on surimono ) for these prints. The Hasegawa edition of this design has a seal “Reproduction not allowed” in upper left margin. It is incorrectly catalogued, no 64, p 87, Beauty and Violence, 1992, which shows a later edition. Signed Oju Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Vertical diptych showing Taira no Atsumori and Kumagai Naozane at the Battle of Ichinotani ( 1184 ). Published by Matsui 1885 ( Meiji 18 ). Superb impression and colour and, apart from slight offsetting, fine condition. The first edition ( indeed this may be the earliest state of the first edition ). Signed Oju Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Vertical diptych showing Taira no Koremochi about to kill the female demon on Mt. Togakushi in Shinano. The episode follows maple viewing when Koremochi fell asleep. The No play Momijigari “Maple Picnic” is based on this story. Published by Matsui Meiji 20 ( 1887 ). Superb impression and colour. Slight offsetting, otherwise fine condition. The first edition. Signed Oju Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Vertical diptych showing Hakamadare Yasuke and Kidomaru fighting with magic. Kidomaru ( below, cross-legged ) holds two wrapped pine branches in his mouth as a spell. Yasuke and Kidomaru are generally considered to be the same person, so why they are depicted here as two individuals is not known. Published 1887 by Matsui. Very fine impression and colour. Left margin trimmed slightly, otherwise fine condition. The first edition. Signed Oju Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. The Monkey battles Kinkaku Daio on a sea cliff from Tsuzoku saiyuki. Published by Fukura 2 A rare set. Very good impression and colour. Untrimmed with green border intact. Minor marks, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. A fireman from the set: Ohoono daiku matoi, A Mirror of Fireman’s Standards in Each of the Precincts of Tokyo. Probably a set of 10 prints published by Okura Magobei, 10 It is not known why this set is so rare, given that firemen were widely admired and on a par with sumo wrestlers and actors. Each fireman holds his standard; his padded clothes were soaked before a fire. Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Oju Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Wakashima Gonemon swimming underwater. The finest design from Azuma no nishiki ukiyo kodan, published by Masudaya 1867 Very fine impression with perfect gradation. Fine colour and condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Choun riding a horse through smoke. One of the finest designs from Azuma no nishiki ukiyo kodan. Published by Yamajin, 1867 Fine impression and colour. Light crease otherwise very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size. Mashiba Dairyo Hisayoshi Ko in lightning. The finest design (together with Kon Sosho and the storm dragon) from Yoshitoshi’s first set of ghost prints: Wakan hyaku monogatari. Published by Daikin, 1865 Fine impression, colour and, apart from minor crinkling, condition. Extensive burnishing and other special effects. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold